Subhayan Chakraborty &Amp; Nivedita Mookerji

Stories by Subhayan Chakraborty &Amp; Nivedita Mookerji

Can Airtel convert AGR dues into govt equity?

Can Airtel convert AGR dues into govt equity?

Rediff.com   15 May 2025

Bharti Airtel vice-chairman & managing director Gopal Vittal on Wednesday said while a call on exercising the option of converting pending spectrum dues into government equity would be taken by its board, the company had reached out to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to confirm whether it could do so. "On the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) conversion, it was simple.

BSNL not keen on selling tower assets as 4G, 5G rollout looms ahead

BSNL not keen on selling tower assets as 4G, 5G rollout looms ahead

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2025

With a major network rollout on the cards, the government is not keen to change the pattern of tower monetisation for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), officials at the state-owned telecom-service provider said. The monetisation target in the telecom sector had to be revised owing to a change in BSNL's approach to mobile-phone tower monetisation, which had shifted from a sale-based model to a lease-based one.

Modi-Musk Talk: Will Starlink Get Go Ahead?

Modi-Musk Talk: Will Starlink Get Go Ahead?

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2025

Starlink's application for offering satcom services in India had been held up for the company's inability to comply with mandatory ownership disclosure norms.

Trump tariffs: With crude off the table, US nudges India towards LNG

Trump tariffs: With crude off the table, US nudges India towards LNG

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2025

With India making it clear that the US doesn't have enough spare capacity for crude oil, Washington, DC, now wants India to sign fixed-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts with American producers, multiple sources in the know said.

No Digital Data Protection Act Change Likely

No Digital Data Protection Act Change Likely

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2025

The "construct of the DPDP Act" cannot be changed at this stage, though there may be some minor tweaks in the language of the Rules and formats in certain legitimate cases.

US slams India's telecom, electronics testing norms, standards

US slams India's telecom, electronics testing norms, standards

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2025

The US wants India to recognise internationally accredited labs, harmonise labelling requirements and the validity period of test reports and certification with global practices, and eliminate retesting requirements.

Trump Diktat Threatens Oil PSUs Dividends In Venezuela

Trump Diktat Threatens Oil PSUs Dividends In Venezuela

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2025

ONGC's overseas arm applied for a sanctions waiver to access $500 million dividend from two Venezuelan projects.

India's next big business op: Hub for undersea cables?

India's next big business op: Hub for undersea cables?

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2025

While India has become the largest data generating nation, and hosts more than 152 data centres, it is fed by only 18 undersea cables.

Upstream oil companies return to Andaman Sea, dig offshore wells

Upstream oil companies return to Andaman Sea, dig offshore wells

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2025

In a significant move, state-run oil producer Oil India Limited (OIL) has finished drilling its first well in the Andaman sea while Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has just started drilling operations in the area, said officials.

'We Are Not The Obstacle To Peace'

'We Are Not The Obstacle To Peace'

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2025

'We will never recognise any part of territories occupied by the Russians.'

Good times are ahead: Puri on natural gas availability

Good times are ahead: Puri on natural gas availability

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2025

Ongoing strategic investment into assets abroad, alongside gas purchases being made by India, will soon allow the country to access as much gas as it needs, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW 2025).

Strategic pacts reshape energy turf

Strategic pacts reshape energy turf

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2025

Leading oil companies dedicated the second day of India Energy Week (IEW) 2025 to announcing strategic deals and business agreements across the supply chain - from sourcing more crude oil supply to deploying more domestic ships and building gas distribution capacity.

Trump Takes Centrestage At Energy Week 2025

Trump Takes Centrestage At Energy Week 2025

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2025

'Trump is good news for us. Energy poverty is real, and fossil fuels are the answer.'

Will Modi Opt For More Energy Imports From US?

Will Modi Opt For More Energy Imports From US?

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2025

US shale oil would act as an alternative to India's heavy dependency on Russian crude, which is currently facing sanctions.

'India Can't Be Left Out of Global AI Policy'

'India Can't Be Left Out of Global AI Policy'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2025

The government wants the AI Summit to give it an early start in becoming part of any global body setting policies for the emerging technology.

'Prime Minister Modi Has Been Fiscally Conscious'

'Prime Minister Modi Has Been Fiscally Conscious'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2025

'Spend, but create assets, spend but make sure that people benefit from it.' 'This has been a beautiful guiding principle. And I think as a finance minister I owe so much to the prime minister for keeping this path clear before us.'

'Budget's Main Objective Was To Honour Taxpayers'

'Budget's Main Objective Was To Honour Taxpayers'

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2025

'Our attempt to honour the taxpayer has been since 2014 and more actively since 2019-2020 onwards.'

Will Trump 2.0 See More US Oil To India?

Will Trump 2.0 See More US Oil To India?

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2025

'The US is strongly placed to expand its crude supplies to India.'

Trump 2.0: Quad Ministers Meet Today

Trump 2.0: Quad Ministers Meet Today

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2025

Dr Jaishankar is expected to discuss the dates for the fifth Quad leaders' summit in India later this year.

Airtel may see highest revenue growth, user addition in Q3

Airtel may see highest revenue growth, user addition in Q3

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2025

Bharti Airtel is expected to see its highest revenue growth, and subscriber addition during the third quarter (October-December) of FY25 among telcos, said analysts. The telco's top line in Q3 may see the fastest sequential growth at 5 per cent compared to 3 per cent for Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi). Airtel's annual mobile revenue growth would rise to 16 per cent, IIFL Capital said in an analyst note.